Located on Sweden's west coast, this coastal town has cobblestone streets dating to medieval times, Viking archaeological sites, and calm beaches along its shoreline.
Kungsbacka sits 28 kilometers south of Gothenburg along Sweden's west coast. In the town center, you'll find streets lined with 19th-century wooden buildings in red and yellow, while the surrounding coastline has sandy beaches like Särö and rocky swimming spots at Gottskär. The Tudor-style Tjolöholm Castle rises above Kungsbacka Fjord, and a giant Super Mario statue marks the local Nintendo headquarters.
Getting Around Kungsbacka
You can reach Kungsbacka via Gothenburg's commuter rail system, with the journey taking about 25 minutes from central Gothenburg. Regular trains depart throughout the day, and the town serves as the line's southern terminus. The compact town center lets you walk between most local attractions.
The Town Center
Red and yellow wooden buildings from the 19th century line the streets of central Kungsbacka. Among them stands a small red cabin that survived the great fire of 1846. Local shops and cafes fill these historic buildings, with the streets most active between 10 AM and 6 PM. The Kungsbacka River winds through the center, with wooden bridges connecting both sides of town.
Beaches and Outdoor Areas
The coastline near Kungsbacka has twenty swimming spots, including the sandy beach at Särö and the smooth-rock cliffs at Gottskär. In Sandsjöbacka Nature Reserve's 1,800 hectares, you can walk marked trails through pine forests, open heathland, and past several lakes. Lake Lygnern, the largest in Halland province, has multiple public access points where you can swim, kayak, and fish from June through August.
Local Landmarks
At Tjolöholm Castle, you can walk through Tudor-style rooms with period furniture and explore the gardens along Kungsbacka Fjord. The 3-meter-tall Super Mario statue stands next to the E6 highway, marking Bergsala, Nintendo's Scandinavian distribution center. The Li Grave Stones site preserves Iron Age burial markers and Viking-era artifacts in their original location.
Modern Kungsbacka
Hede Fashion Outlet houses international brand stores in an indoor shopping center. The town has become a base for over 2,000 businesses, including technology companies developing electric motorcycles. New residential areas and commercial buildings are expanding the town's eastern and northern edges, adding about 1,000 new residents each year.
